Short-eared owl

Short-eared owl, (Asio flammeus), stocky bird of prey of the family Strigidae (order Strigiformes), about 40 cm (about 1.3 feet) long with a prominent facial disk. Among the most widely distributed of owls, it is circumpolar from the Arctic to the North Temperate Zone, occurs in Hawaii and much of South America, and migrates far south. Short erectile tufts (ear tufts) on the front of the head are rudimentary and inconspicuous. The bird is brown above with white spots, pale below with breast streaks.

Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus).

Hans Reinhard/Bruce Coleman Ltd.

Short-eared owls prefer open country and are often seen abroad in the daytime. They eat mice, birds, insects, and frogs and nest on the ground, often in colonies.

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Owls are found on all continents except Antarctica and on most oceanic islands. Some, such as the barn owl (Tyto alba) and the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), are among the most widely distributed birds; others, such as the Palau owl (Pyrroglaux podargina) and the Seychelles owl (Otus insularis), are endemic island species with small populations. Owls often attain...